Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsabel’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsabel’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; intense purple-colored flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Alstroemeria hybridacultivar Zalsabel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida,commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Zalsabel’.

The new Alstroemeria is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hillegom and Rijnsburg, The Netherlands.The objective of the breeding program was to develop new cut flowerAlstroemeria cultivars with desirable flower and plant qualities,attractive flower colors and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in June, 1996 in Hillegom, The Netherlands, of a proprietaryAlstroemeria hybrida selection identified as 95172-1, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybridaselection identified as 95146-1PN, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Alstroemeria was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled environment in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands in April,1997.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by root divisions taken in acontrolled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands, since September,1997, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualpropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Zalsabel have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsabel’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Zalsabel’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Intense purple-colored flowers.    -   4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijnsburg,The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants ofthe female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had shorter flowering stems        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Flower color of plants of the new Alstroemeria was more        intense purple than flower color of plants of the female parent        selection.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijnsburg,The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had longer flowering stems        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Flower color of plants of the new Alstroemeria was more        intense purple than flower color of plants of the male parent        selection.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the cultivarStabec, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,041. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the newAlstroemeria differed from plants of the cultivar Stabec in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had longer flowering stems        than plants of the cultivar Stabec.    -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had smaller flowers than        plants of the cultivar Stabec.    -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had intense purple-colored        flowers whereas plants of the cultivar Stabec had red and white        bi-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Alstroemeria, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Alstroemeria.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringstem of ‘Zalsabel’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown in Rijsenhout, TheNetherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse in ground beds. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15 to 25° C.,night temperatures ranged from 10 to 15° C. and light levels averaged5,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and description were about oneyear old. The photograph and the description were taken during Augustand September, 2002. Color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar Zalsabel.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection            identified as 95172-1, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida            identified as 95146-1PN, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By root divisions.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; white, close to            155D, in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.        -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 to            30 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color:            Close to 155D.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy appearance.            Vigorous growth habit.        -   Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.—About 80 to 90            days.        -   Number of flowering stems produced per year.—About 184 to            220.        -   Plant height.—About 125 to 175 cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 30 to 35 cm.        -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About            150 cm. Diameter: About 4.75 to 10 mm. Internode length:            About 2.5 to 6 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Slightly            pubescent. Color: Close to 144A to 144B.        -   Foliage description.—Leaves asymmetrical; sessile. Length:            About 15 to 20 cm. Width: About 3 to 5 cm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Venation pattern: Parallel. Color: Developing and fully            developed foliage, upper surface: Close to 137A; glossy.            Developing and fully developed foliage, lower surface: Close            to 137C. Venation: Upper surface, close to 137A; lower            surface, close to 137C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in            compound umbels. Perianth segments separate. Freely and            continuously flowering. Flowers not persistent.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the            spring in The Netherlands.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks.        -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 12 to 16 days.        -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 2.5 to 3 cm.            Diameter: About 1 to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color:            Purplish.        -   Umbel length.—About 15 to 25 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 25 to 30 cm.        -   Number of flowers per umbel.—About 7 to 11.        -   Flower length (height).—About 6.5 to 7 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5 to 6 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 6 to 6.5 cm.        -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each            whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, inner            perianth segments: Length: Laterals, about 6 to 7 cm;            median, 5 cm. Width: Laterals, about 1 to 2 cm; median, 1.8            to 2 cm. Size, outer perianth segments: Length: Laterals,            about 5 to 6 cm; median, about 6 to 7 cm. Width: Laterals,            about 3.5 to 4 cm; median, about 3 to 3.5 cm. Shape, inner            perianth, all segments: Oblanceolate. Shape, outer perianth,            all segments: Obovate. Apex, inner perianth, all segments:            Acute. Apex, outer perianth, all segments: Bracket-shaped.            Base, inner and outer perianths, all segments: Attenuate.            Margin, inner and outer perianths, all segments: Entire;            weakly undulate. Texture, inner and outer perianths, all            segments: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color, inner perianth:            When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Laterals: 77A            to 77B; towards base, 155D; splotches in white area, 2A;            spots and stripes, close to 187A. Median: 77A to 77B; spots            and stripes, close to 187A. When opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Laterals: 77A to 77B; towards base, 155D;            splotches in white area, 2A. Median: 77A to 77B. Color,            outer perianth: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Laterals: 77A to 78C with green tip. Median: 77A to            78B with green tip. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Laterals and median: 77A to 78B with green tip and            venation.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 to 8 cm. Diameter: About 3 to            4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 20 to 30° from            vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 to            3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 20 to 30° from            vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.            Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther length: About 8 mm. Anther            diameter: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 201A. Pollen            amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Between 202A to 202B and            95A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Style length: About            4 to 5 cm. Style color: Dark purple. Ovary color: Close to            144A.        -   Fruit.—Shape: Globular. Color: Brownish.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Alstroemerias.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from −5 to 40° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsabel’ asillustrated and described.